Jim Green Movies
- 2004
Cassie Broadbeck (Melissa Gilbert) is the matriarch of a highly dysfunctional family whose home is invaded by an escaped convict (Thomas Cavanaugh) and his two henchmen. Painfully aware that her husband Wayne (Brian Wimmer) will be of no help whatsoever, the desperate Cassie is willing to do anything--anything--to save the lives of her two daughters. Making a bad situation even worse is the fact that a hurricane is rapidly approaching! Somewhat prophetically set in New Orleans, Heart of the Storm was first screened at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival on November 5, 2004, then made its cable-TV debut over the Lifetime channel seventeen days later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Tia Carrere stars in this made-for-cable melodrama as Dr. Vicki Westin, whose brilliance as a surgeon does not quite compensate for her coldness as a human being. Dr. Westin is forced to think outside of herself for the first time in her life when her husband (Richard Burgi) and daughter (Zoe Gaber) are kidnapped. Their abductor is Jeff Bender (Dale Midkiff), a grieving father who child had been one of Vicki's patients, and who had died on the operating table. The grimly vengeful Bender offers Dr. Westin a choice: She can save either her husband or her daughter, but not both--and she has only 48 hours to make her decision! Filmed on location in New Orleans, Torn Apart originally aired over the Lifetime Channel on September 30, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
By rights, Dr. Ken Garrett (Markus Flanagan) should consider himself lucky: He is the only member of a surgical team to keep his job after a child dies during an operation. Unfortunately, Garrett has been plunged into the depths of guilt and depression by the ordeal, forcing his wife Beth (Stephanie Zimbalist) to dust off her law degree and support her family by taking on medical malpractice cases. By what seems to be an amazing coincidence, Beth is hired to represent one of the nurses fired in the wake of the child's death. As the case progresses, a few unsavory facts are brought to surface suggesting that Beth's client may have an ulterior motive--and that somewhere along the line, two murders have been committed right under the noses of the authorities. The made-for-TV Malpractice was originally telecast on May 25, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Not long after the death of her mother in a car accident, Kelly (Elisabeth Moss) and her father Jesse (Greg Evigan) move to New Orleans. Their new house is reportedly haunted--and Kelly is convinced that the ghost is begging for her help. Jesse, however, is more skeptical, and with the assistance of Kelly's troublesome friend Cole (Austin O'Brien) he tries to prove that the "haunting" is actually a manifestation of Kelly's own guilt feelings. As it turns out, however, both Kelly and Jesse are right! Evidently intended for theatrical release, Spirit was first seen in the US as a cable-TV offering on the Lifetime channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Originally telecast from 1985 to 1992, the popular sitcom Growing Pains briefly roared back into life with this made-for-TV movie. The proceedings commence with Dr. Jason Seaver (Alan Thicke, who also coproduced the film) offering a capsule summary of what has been going on with himself and his family since the cancellation of their series. Then the story segues into an amusingly complicated tale of romance and politics, as Jason's wife Maggie (Joanna Kerns), fired by her politician boss, decides to run against her ex-employer in an upcoming primary. The fun really begins when Jason and Maggie's daughter Carol (Tracey Gold), now a high-profile attorney, falls in love with the rival politico's campaign manager. Meanwhile, Carol's brother Mike (Kirk Cameron) continues seeking out his true place in the world, and younger sister Chrissy (Ashley Johnson) has a few problems of her own sustaining her high GPA in school. The Growing Pains Movie first aired on November 5, 2000, as a two-hour episode of ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Thirty-three years after the demise of The Patty Duke Show, you'll be glad to know that Patty Lane is still seeing the sights a girl can see from Brooklyn Heights, and that her identical cousin Cathy still prefers the minuet and crepe suzette, judging from the evidence presented in this made-for-TV movie. Patty Duke once again plays both Patty and Cathy; these days, Patty is a drama teacher at her old high school, and while she's still sees her old boyfriend Richard (Eddie Applegate), they got married after high school and have since divorced; they have a grown son and a granddaughter. Cathy, on the other hand, is a widow with a teenage son, currently living in Scotland. When the two cousins meet again at a family reunion, they join forces to do battle with Patty's arch-enemy Sue Ellen (Cindy Williams), who plans to buy Brooklyn Heights High School, tear it down and put in a strip mall. Also reprising their roles from the original TV series are William Schallert and Jean Byron as Patty's parents. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patty Duke, William Schallert, (more)
- 1999
Although actor-director-producer Michael Landon died of pancreatic cancer in 1991, his life and career remained indelibly etched on the collective consciousness of America for many years afterward, as witness this warts-and-all TV biopic written and directed by Michael Landon Jr. Although it is clear throughout that the younger Landon loved and adored his father, the film is unstinting in its depiction of the emotional damage wrought upon the boy when, at age 15, his parents were divorced. In fact, it is the elder Landon's infidelities (and his almost casual selfishness) that galvanize the storyline, creating a schism between father and son that would not be repaired until the two Landons came to terms during Michael Sr.'s long and painful terminal illness. To be fair, the film allows Michael Sr. to score points vis-à-vis his tireless dedication to his work and his sincere efforts to be a loving and protective father to his enormous family. John Schneider is cast as the elder Landon, with Joel Berti as the adult Michael Jr., Cheryl Ladd as his mother (and his dad's second wife) Lynn, and Julie Condra as Michael Sr's third wife Cindy, a makeup artist whom the actor had met on the set of Little House on the Prairie (is it any surprise that Lynn comes off far more sympathetically than Cindy in the context of the film?) Michael Landon, the Father I Knew premiered May 23, 1999 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Small-town housewife Sarah Jenks (Melissa Gilbert) would hardly qualify as the most popular woman in her community: She constantly speaks her mind, contemptuously disdains those who aren't vegetarians like herself, and (horrors!) does not attend church on Sunday. However, no one would ever claim that Sarah was not a loving and devoted mother to her children--at least not until the day that a spiteful woman named Sandy Barlow (Joely Fisher) levies accusations that Sarah is guilty of child abuse. Never bothering to question Sandy's ulterior motives (the audience knows that she has sexual designs on Sarah's husband), the authorities take her charges seriously, and before long Sarah's children have been ripped away from her and placed into foster care. Inspired by actual events, this nailbiting made-for-TV movie exposes the dangers of taking people and events at face value, accepting baseless lies as Gospel and adhering to a rigid "rules are rules" mentality. Seduction in a Small Town made itsABC debut on February 9, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Laughter and chills are served up in equal measure in this made-for-TV movie for the whole family. Kelly and Lynn Farmer (Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen) are twin sisters, who, one Halloween, make a surprising discovery about their Aunt Agatha (Cloris Leachman) -- she's a witch! It seems Agatha isn't an especially nice witch, either -- she has a grudge against Kelly and Lynn's father and wants to ruin him financially, and the twins have to step in to stop her. However, along the way they also have to help Agatha's twin sister Sophia (also played by Leachman), who has been trapped by one of Agatha's spells. Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen: Double, Double, Toil & Trouble also features Meshach Taylor and Eric McCormack. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1991
The mother of the title is played by Meredith Baxter. Her daughter (Carrie Hamilton) is raped by an unknown assailant who leaves no tangible clues behind. Obsessed with bringing the rapist out in the open, Ms. Baxter sets herself up as a potential assault victim. Farfetched though it sounds, A Mother's Justice was based on an actual case that occurred in Portland, Oregon. This TV movie had the rotten luck to be scheduled opposite Monday Night Football and a CBS M*A*S*H retrospective when it was first telecast on November 25, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In this crime drama, a sequel to "Deadly Intentions," the protagonist, Dr. Charles Raynor, who was convicted of attempted murder, has been paroled. He goes home to his second wife. He is determined to get revenge upon those who had him convicted for trying to kill his first wife. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1988
When this seriocomic TV film first aired March 28, 1988, it was titled Addicted to His Love. Evidently to pacify certain feminist factions, the film was rechristened Sisterhood for syndication. Either way, this is the story of a smooth lothario, played by Barry Bostwick. In the course of 97 minutes, Bostwick finds time to romance and betray four women, played by Linda Purl, Coleen Camp, Erin Grey and Dee Wallace-Stone. Instead of getting mad upon learning that they're sharing Bostwick's affections, the four ladies join forces to get even. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this thriller set against the majestic backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, the late John Denver stars as a retired FBI agent seeking to clear the name of a close friend. Disillusioned with his job as a G-man, Jim Clayton retires from the FBI and goes into the airfreight business with his best friend. When Clayton's pal is murdered and branded a bootlegger, the former agent embarks on his most treacherous mission to date - clearing the name of an innocent man. Martin Kove, John Rhys-Davies, and Richard Masur co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Denver, Martin Kove, (more)
- 1982
This made-for-TV movie was initially shown under the title I, Desire. Coroner's aide David Naughton can't understand why one of the corpses under his care has been drained of blood. Doing a little detective work on his own, Naughton follows the trail of clues to sexy streetwalker Marilyn Jones. Could it be that this far-from-happy hooker is a vampire? Dorian Harewood costars as the detective on the case. I Desire originally aired November 15, 1982, two weeks too late for Halloween. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Money on the Side is a feminist's worst nightmare. This TV movie proposes that the only recourse a housewife has to the nation's "faltering economy" (to quote the film's press release) is to turn to prostitution. The three suburban housewife hookers in this opus are Jamie Lee Curtis, Linda Purl, and....Karen VALENTINE?!?!?!? Say it ain't so, Joe. Forget this one: even the title of Money on the Side sounds like a dirty joke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Once seen, the made-for-TV Fallen Angel can never be forgotten. Dana Hill is nothing short of brilliant as Jennifer, a 13-year-old runaway girl who is slowly but inexorably seduced into the world of child pornography. Adding depth to Lew Hunter's screenplay is the fact that the older man responsible for Jennifer's downfall, played by Richard Masur, is not a slavering villain. Instead, partly because of his own abused childhood, he is as pathetically misguided as his victim, truly believing that his filthy activities are expressions of affection. First telecast February 24, 1981, Fallen Angel was one of the highest-rated TV movies of its time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Hill, Richard Masur, (more)
- 1980
Richard Thomas plays a single man named David Benjamin in the made-for-TV To Find My Son. While tutoring a speech-impaired young man named Tommy (Justin Dana), David becomes determined to adopt the boy. The Child Welfare people, however, have different ideas. But David will not be dissuaded, tilting at the windmills of bureaucracy for nearly two hours' worth of TV time. To Find My Son debuted October 6, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Timothy Bottoms stars as the real-life John Baker in the made-for-TV A Shining Season. A champion University of New Mexico track athlete, the 25-year-old Baker is only momentarily halted when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. His efforts to coach a losing girls' track team in his last months proves an inspiration for the sports world in general, and for a similarly doomed child in particular. Adapted by William Harrison from the book by William Buchanan, this film was first telecast the day after Christmas, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Fast Friends is a lumpy satire set "backstage" at a talk show (imagine what the film would have been like had it been made in 1989 rather than '79). Most of the action centers around egotistical, near-lunatic talk host Dick Shawn. His frantic antics are counterpointed with the story of career woman Susan Heldfond, a divorcee who re-enters the workplace for the sake of her child. This made-for-TV film costars former critic's darling Carrie Snodgress and then-hot actress MacKenzie Phillips. But the real attraction in Fast Friends is the prescient appearance of tenth-billed David Letterman as "Matt Morgan", a brash comedian who has the temerity to upstage the preening Dick Shawn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
- R
Six recently divorced males gather 'round a restaurant table and talk about their past lives and their recently failed marriages while trying to piece their lives back together. This drama is somewhat interesting for presenting the topic of life after a divorce from a man's point of view. (And yes, Neil Sedaka sings the smash title song over the final credits - so don't change that dial!) Originally made for television, and broadcast on ABC in two parts - one on Wed., Sep. 5, 1979, and one on Friday, Sep. 7, 1979 -- this film was reissued on video about ten years later to capitalize on Billy Crystal's growing fame. When it arrived on home video, the picture received its first MPAA rating (R) and was edited down from its original running time of 150 minutes to 96 minutes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Elizabeth Christman's novel A Nice Italian Girl was the source for the TV-movie Black Market Baby. Desi Arnaz Jr. plays a slick lothario who is paid by an illicit adoption agency to impregnate impressionable college student Linda Purl. The racketeers stand to make $50,000 by selling the baby to an anxious middle-aged couple. When Arnaz falls in love with Purl and tries to help her keep her baby, the crooks take swift and violent action. Originally titled A Dangerous Love, Black Market Baby was released theatrically overseas as Don't Steal My Baby--a title more appropriate to the overall tawdriness of the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Purl, Desi Arnaz, Jr., (more)
